Nintendo used its latest financial update and product pages this week to push back against criticism that the Nintendo Switch 2 lacks software. The company reconfirmed firm release dates for several high‑profile first‑party games, outlined windows for others, and highlighted what its president called an unprecedented wave of third‑party support — even as limited console availability means many customers will still be waiting to buy in.
Firm dates and what’s coming soon
Nintendo’s official storefront and recent company communications list a mix of new entries, ports and expanded editions headed to the Switch 2 over the next year. Highlights with confirmed dates include:
- Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment — available November 6, 2025 (Nintendo Switch 2)
- Kirby Air Riders — available November 20 (Nintendo’s product page lists the date; the release is for Switch 2)
- Metroid Prime 4: Beyond — December 4, 2025 (reconfirmed in Nintendo’s financial briefing)
- Animal Crossing: New Horizons — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition — January 15, 2026
- Mario Tennis Fever — February 12, 2026
- Having played 50 hours or more of Nintendo Switch paid software as of October 19, 2025 (trial and free software excluded)
- Not having already purchased a Switch 2 console in prior lottery or invitation sales
- Not having an existing Nintendo Account linked to a Switch 2 at the time of application
Nintendo also reconfirmed spring 2026 windows for Super Mario Bros. Wonder — Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, and listed 2026 windows for Pokémon Pokopia and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave. Splatoon Raiders remains on the slate without a firm date.
For a roundup of titles releasing this month and demos available at retail, Nintendo’s official November roundup is available on its site: Nintendo.
November spotlight: retail demos and a packed month
Nintendo’s November schedule is busy beyond its own first‑party slate. The official storefront highlighted a number of Switch and Switch 2 releases arriving throughout the month, including new regional versions and remasters such as Atelier Ryza 3 DX, Yakuza Kiwami bundles, and family titles like SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide. Several games offered demos and special in‑store events ahead of launch.
Third‑party support: Nintendo’s strongest lineup yet
In the financial briefing, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa said the Switch 2 has seen the "largest third‑party software lineup" ever for new Nintendo hardware, pointing to a broad array of publishers bringing major IP to the system from launch. That third‑party list mixes AA and AAA games as well as indie hits — examples mentioned publicly include releases from CD Projekt Red, SEGA, Capcom and Bandai Namco.
Industry trackers and coverage of Nintendo’s results noted strong commercial performance for some early first‑party releases: Mario Kart World has sold roughly 9.57 million units and Donkey Kong Bananza about 3.49 million, figures cited in reporting on the company’s briefing.
The influx of third‑party titles — and the promise of big franchises arriving on Switch 2 — is central to Nintendo’s effort to counter the narrative that the new hardware launched without games. Yet not every high‑profile third‑party port is trouble‑free: Bandai Namco’s Switch 2 version of Elden Ring was reported to have been delayed to an unspecified date, underscoring that third‑party schedules can still shift.
Who can buy a Switch 2 right now? Invitation sales limit immediate availability
Supply remains a practical constraint. Nintendo has continued to distribute Switch 2 units in waves via invitation sales on its My Nintendo Store. One recent Japanese announcement clarified that a "multilingual" Switch 2 invitation sale would open on the My Nintendo Store, with applications accepted from the afternoon of November 6, 2025 through November 18, 2025 and invitations scheduled to be sent in late November.
Eligibility criteria for that sale (as announced by Nintendo and reported in regional outlets) include:
Nintendo said this particular invitation will only cover the multilingual model and that no additional domestic‑only or Japanese‑language unit sales were planned before year‑end.
What this means for players and the holiday season
Taken together, the announcements send a clear message: Nintendo intends to give the Switch 2 a fuller launch and early lifecycle lineup than some critics expected. Firm dates for marquee first‑party titles, an expanding third‑party roster and retail demos are all moves toward keeping the platform competitive during the holiday shopping window and into 2026.
But two tensions remain. First, several of the biggest near‑term releases are ports or "Switch 2 Edition" updates of existing games rather than wholly new franchises, which may temper expectations for entirely fresh experiences. Second, invite‑only sales and limited stock mean many consumers will still find it difficult to buy hardware immediately, potentially slowing the install base growth publishers want.
For now, Nintendo appears focused on using a steady cadence of releases and broader partner support to sustain momentum. Whether that strategy will convert critics of the console’s early library into satisfied owners — or frustrate gamers kept waiting by invite‑only inventory — will become clearer as December releases arrive and 2026 unfolds.